Next up: Chargers in the Dome(Divisional Round Playoffs)

Well, here they come. Remember those guys in the powder blue uniforms who made fools of Russ Purnell (this is not a hard task, light does the same thing every moment - without even trying), frustrated the Fearless Leader with 6 opportunistic interceptions, and still only won because the Placekicker Gods didn't receive their pre-game sacrifice from Adam Vinatieri? Those guys, who used to have a coat of arms with a horse head on it as a logo, are known as the Chargers by the league. My theory suggests that will soon be known as "The First Team to Get Rocked by the Colts on the Way to Their Second Championship", or some appropriately shortened acronym.

This team continues to baffle the mind. One could say they have the most talented (in a raw sense) roster in the league, but don't seem to have the consistency and fortitude to win the Big Game. If one looks at their near-squeaker against Tennessee and point to that as a sign of improvement, you haven't watched one game of Titans-era Vince Young. LT showed once again that speed on the edge of the defense can quickly nullify his talents (as great as they are), and the San Diego secondary is an on again/off again type unit. But surely the biggest crack to develop in this team recently is the injury to Antonio Gates. Gates is so talented and explosive a player, the media doesn't have the attention span to pay attention to the remarkable Dallas Clark. And lastly comes the San Diego pass rush, which features four should-be-household names in Merriman, Phillips, Castillo, and Williams. With the exception of the latter, all four base their attack off speed, which the Colts' line showed this season it can handle.

The one X factor in this game will no doubt be experience. The Colts know how to win playoff games. Three rookies will need to adjust: Ed Johnson, Anthony Gonzalez, and Tony Ugoh. An emphasis on the last name there, he better be ready for every ounce of effort you can expect and then some, especially if New England smacks down the Kitties from J-Town. They want revenge from the playoffs and the earlier regular season game, so they might go for blood. I would say that I am definitely confident going into this game, as I know that they'll need more than 17 points to beat Peyton and the Gang.

A more in-depth analysis is in the wings, and I'll post it about mid-week. I'll also try to post any significant scuttlebut coming out of 56th Street. In the meantime, click on your Notepad and get the keyboards fired up, we'll be ramping up for mock-draft and off-season speculation mode early, to keep things fresh around here until serious action gets going.

Thanks again for reading and please feel free to comment.